These are the final keyboard commands for FSX. Many are new due to the new features in FSX. Print them out (5 pages). You'll find that they will enhance your flight experiences with FSX.

You can view the keyboard controls below or you can download the file to keep on your own system.

This control list is extensive and should cover everything you need from basic to advanced flying in Flight Simulator X.

PDF Option

If you choose to download this file instead of viewing it on this page, it now includes a PDF sheet with a keyboard map option for cross-compatibility and easy downloading/viewing. This has been added by popular user demand. We have also included additional Microsoft Word formats too.

Let us know

If these commands have been helpful to you or if you have any issues using them (or if any are incorrect), please let us know in the comments section below. Please note, also included in this file are all of the files from fsxkypml.zip (PDF, JPG, PNG).

Control list

NOTE: Make sure Num Lock is OFF before using Num Pad commands.

SIMULATOR COMMANDS

Pause

P or BREAK

Full Screen Mode

ALT + ENTER

Menus (display/hide)

ALT

ATC Menu (display/hide)

ACCENT or SCROLL LOCK

Kneeboard (display/hide)

SHIFT+F10

Sound (on/off)

Q

Reset Current Flight

CTRL+; (SEMICOLON)

Save Flight

; (SEMICOLON)

Exit Flight Simulator

CTRL+C

Exit Flight Simulator Immediately

CTRL+BREAK

Joystick (on/off)

CTRL+K

Cycle Coordinates/Frame Rate

SHIFT+Z

Select Item 1

1

Select Item 2

2

Select Item 3

3

Select Item 4

4

Select Time Compression

R

Drop Objects

SHIFT+D

Fuel Truck (request)

SHIFT+F

Aircraft Labels (display/hide)

CTRL+SHIFT+L

Flying Tips (display/hide)

CTRL+SHIFT+X

Increase Selection

= (EQUAL SIGN)

Increase Selection Slightly

SHIFT+= (EQUAL SIGN)

Decrease Selection Slightly

SHIFT+- (MINUS SIGN)

Decrease Selection

- (MINUS SIGN)

Capture Screenshot

V

Jetway (attach/detach)

CTRL+J

End Flight

ESC

CONTROL SURFACE COMMANDS

Ailerons (bank left)

Num Pad 4

Ailerons (bank right)

Num Pad 6

Aileron Trim (left)

CTRL+Num Pad 4

Aileron Trim (right)

CTRL+Num Pad 6

Rudder (yaw left)

Num Pad 0

Rudder (yaw right)

Num Pad ENTER

Rudder Trim (left)

CTRL+ Num Pad 0

Rudder Trim (right)

CTRL+Num Pad ENTER

Center Ailerons and Rudder

Num Pad 5

Pitch Down (elevator)

Num Pad 8

Pitch Up (elevator)

Num Pad 2

Elevator Trim Down

Num Pad 7

Elevator Trim Up

Num Pad 1

Flaps (retract fully)

F5

Flaps (retract incrementally)

F6

Flaps (extend incrementally)

F7

Flaps (extend fully)

F8

Extend/Retract Spoilers/Airbrakes

/ (FORWARD SLASH)

Arm Spoilers

SHIFT+/ (FORWARD SLASH)

Water Rudder Up/Down

CTRL+W

ENGINE COMMANDS

On multiengine aircraft, engine commands affect all engines unless you first select an engine.

Select Engine

E+engine number (1-4)

Select All Engines

E+1+2+3+4

Engine Autostart

CTRL+E

Throttle (cut)

F1

Reverse Thrust (turboprops/jets)

F2 (press and hold)

Throttle (decrease)

F2 or Num Pad 3

Throttle (increase)

F3 or Num Pad 9

Throttle (full)

F4

Propeller (low RPM)

CTRL+F1

Propeller (decrease RPM)

CTRL+F2

Propeller (increase RPM)

CTRL+F3

Propeller (high RPM)

CTRL+F4

Mixture (idle cutoff)

CTRL+SHIFT+F1

Mixture (lean quickly)

CTRL+SHIFT+F2

Mixture (enrich)

CTRL+SHIFT+F3

Mixture (full rich)

CTRL+SHIFT+F4

Carb Heat/Engine Anti-ice ((on/off))

H

Magnetos (select)

M

Master Battery/Alternator (select)

SHIFT+M

Jet Starter (select)

J

Helicopter Rotor Clutch ((on/off))

SHIFT+. (PERIOD)

Helicopter Rotor Governor ((on/off))

SHIFT+, (COMMA)

Helicopter Rotor Brake ((on/off))

SHIFT+B

Increase Selection

= (EQUAL SIGN)

Increase Selection Slightly

SHIFT+= (EQUAL SIGN)

Decrease Selection Slightly

SHIFT+- (MINUS SIGN)

Decrease Selection

- (MINUS SIGN)

GENERAL AIRCRAFT COMMANDS

Brake (set parking)

CTRL+. (PERIOD)

Pushback (start/stop)

SHIFT+P (then press 1 or 2

to turn tail right/left)

Brakes (apply/release)

. (PERIOD)

Brakes (apply left brake)

Num Pad + (PLUS)

Brakes (apply right brake)

Num Pad - (MINUS)

Landing Gear (extend/retract)

G

Tail wheel (lock/unlock)

SHIFT+G

Landing Gear (extend manually)

CTRL+G

Fuel Dump (on/off)

CTRL+SHIFT+D

Subpanels (display/hide)

SHIFT + 1 through 9

Smoke System ((on/off))

I

Cowl Flaps (open incrementally)

CTRL+SHIFT+V

Cowl Flaps (close incrementally)

CTRL+SHIFT+C

Tow Plane (call)

CTRL+SHIFT+Y

Tow Rope (release)

SHIFT+Y

Doors (select)

SHIFT+E

LIGHT COMMANDS

Lights - all (on/off)

L

Strobe Lights (on/off)

O

Panel Lights (on/off)

SHIFT+L

Landing Lights (on/off)

CTRL+L

Landing Light (tilt down)

CTRL+SHIFT+Num Pad 2

Landing Light (tilt left)

CTRL+SHIFT+Num Pad 4

Landing Light (tilt right)

CTRL+SHIFT+Num Pad 6

Landing Light (tilt up)

CTRL+SHIFT+Num Pad 8

Landing Light (center)

CTRL+SHIFT+Num Pad 5

RADIO COMMANDS

ATC Window (display/hide)

` ACCENT or SCROLL LOCK

VOR 1 Ident (on/off)

CTRL+1

VOR 2 Ident (on/off)

CTRL+2

MKR Ident (on/off)

CTRL+3

DME Ident (on/off)

CTRL+4

ADF Ident (on/off)

CTRL+5

Standby Frequency (swap)

X

COM Radio (select)

C

NAV Radio (select)

N

OBS indicator (select)

SHIFT+V

ADF (select)

CTRL+SHIFT+A

DME (select)

F

Transponder (select)

T

Increase Selection

= (EQUAL SIGN)

Increase Selection Slightly

SHIFT+= (EQUAL SIGN)

Decrease Selection Slightly

SHIFT+- (MINUS SIGN)

Decrease Selection

- (MINUS SIGN)

AUTOPILOT COMMANDS

Master (on/off)

Z

Flight Director (on/off)

CTRL+F

Wing Leveler (on/off)

CTRL+V

Yaw Damper (on/off)

CTRL+D

Altitude Hold (on/off)

CTRL+ Z

Altitude Bug (select)

CTRL+SHIFT+Z

Heading Hold (on/off)

CTRL+H

Heading Bug (select)

CTRL+SHIFT+H

Airspeed Hold (on/off)

CTRL+R

Mach Hold (on/off)

CTRL+M

Autothrottle (arm)

SHIFT+R

Autothrottle engage (TOGA)

CTRL+SHIFT+G

Nav 1 Hold (on/off)

CTRL+N

Approach Mode (on/off)

CTRL+A

Back Course Mode (on/off)

CTRL+B

Localizer Hold (on/off)

CTRL+O

Attitude Hold (on/off)

CTRL+T

Increase Selection

= (EQUAL SIGN)

Increase Selection Slightly

SHIFT+= (EQUAL SIGN)

Decrease Selection Slightly

SHIFT+- (MINUS SIGN)

Decrease Selection

- (MINUS SIGN)

INSTRUMENT COMMANDS

Heading Indicator (reset)

D

Altimeter (reset)

B

Pitot Heat (on/off)

SHIFT+H

Increase Selection

= (EQUAL SIGN)

Increase Selection Slightly

SHIFT+= (EQUAL SIGN)

Decrease Selection Slightly

SHIFT+- (MINUS SIGN)

Decrease Selection

- (MINUS SIGN)

VIEW COMMANDS

2-D Cockpit (cycle panels)

W

Snap to Panel View

SHIFT+Num Pad 0

View (next category)

S

View (previous category)

SHIFT+S

View (next view in category)

A

View (previous view in category)

SHIFT+A

View (previous view toggle)

CTRL+S

View (default zoom)

BACKSPACE

Look (snap)

Num Pad

Look (pan)

Hat switch or thumbstick

Look (reset to forward view)

SHIFT+Num Pad DEL

Look Using Mouse (on)

Hold SPACEBAR

Look Using Mouse (on/off)

SHIFT+O

View (open new window)

[ (LEFT BRACKET)

View (close selected window)

] (RIGHT BRACKET)

View (open new top-down window)

SHIFT+] (RIGHT BRACKET)

Virtual Cockpit

F9

2-D Cockpit

F10

Locked Spot View

F11

Top-Down View

F12

2-D Panel Transparency

CTRL+SHIFT+T (+ or -)

Window (bring selected to front)

' (APOSTROPHE)

Zoom In

= (EQUAL SIGN)

Zoom Out

- (HYPHEN)

View (next window)

CTRL+TAB

View (previous window)

CTRL+SHIFT+TAB

Eyepoint (move back)

CTRL+ENTER

Eyepoint (move down)

SHIFT+BACKSPACE

Eyepoint (move forward)

CTRL+BACKSPACE

Eyepoint (move left)

CTRL+SHIFT+BACKSPACE

Eyepoint (move right)

CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER

Eyepoint (move up)

SHIFT+ENTER

Eyepoint (reset)

CTRL+SPACE

SLEW COMMANDS

Slew to rapidly reposition your aircraft without flying in real time.

Slew Mode (on/off)

Y

Heading North/Attitude Level

CTRL+SPACEBAR

Freeze All Movement

Num Pad 5

Slew Forward

Num Pad 8

Slew Backward

Num Pad 2

Slew Left

Num Pad 4

Slew Right

Num Pad 6

Slew Up Slowly

Q or F3

Slew Up Quickly

F4

Slew Down Slowly

A

Slew Down Quickly

F1

Freeze Vertical Movement

F2

Rotate Left

Num Pad 1

Rotate Right

Num Pad 3

Pitch Nose Up

9

Pitch Nose Up Quickly

F5

Pitch Nose Down

F7 or 0

Pitch Nose Down Quickly

F8

Freeze Pitch

F6

Bank Left

Num Pad 7

Bank Right

Num Pad 9

MISSION COMMANDS

Compass/Pointer (on/off)

U

Compass Objective (next)

K

Compass Objective (previous)

SHIFT+K

MULTIPLAYER COMMANDS

Chat Window (display/hide)

CTRL+SHIFT+]

Chat Window (make active)

ENTER

Voice (start transmit)

CAPS LOCK

Voice (stop transmit)

^CAPS LOCK

Voice (start transmit to all)

SHIFT+CAPS LOCK

Voice (stop transmit to all)

^SHIFT+CAPS LOCK

Transfer/Accept Control

SHIFT+T

Follow Other Player

CTRL+SHIFT+F

To add or customize keyboard commands, on the Options menu, point to Controls, then click Buttons/Keys.

The archive FSX_Keyboard_Commands.zip.zip has 9 files and directories contained within it.

File Contents

This list displays the first 500 files in the package. If the package has more, you will need to download it to view them.

Filename/Directory

File Date

File Size

FSXKeyboardCommands.mht

08.31.06

74.16 kB

flyawaysimulation.txt

10.29.13

959 B

Go to Fly Away Simulation.url

01.22.16

52 B

FSXKeyboardCommands.doc

01.14.19

182.00 kB

FSXKeyboardCommands.docx

01.14.19

19.09 kB

FSXKeyboardCommands.pdf

01.14.19

98.49 kB

FSX Keyboard Commands Page JPG.jpg

10.24.06

871.09 kB

FSX Keyboard Commands Pamphlet.pdf

10.24.06

887.23 kB

FSXCmndsScreenshot.png

10.29.06

680.33 kB

Editorial

Without a doubt, one of the best investments that you can make when using a flight simulator is to pick up a flight stick and a gaming keyboard.

However, not everybody is going to be able to make the most of these features because of the massive scope for using the keyboard when in-flight.

I really struggled to fly properly at first as I was constantly moving from one section to the next, trying this and that to become a more adept pilot – it just wouldn’t work. Then, I discovered the brilliance of hotkeys and keyboard commands.

In conjunction with my own flight stick, I was able to take control of a flight far more readily and steer it in the direction that I needed to go. This excellent list of commands and controls can be just what you need to get things moving; rather than always trying to click with the mouse, or spending forever looking for a certain feature, you can do it with a simple press of a button.

Thanks to the excellent use of hotkeys you can avoid having to deal with this kind of situation too often, and will eventually start to master those little shortcuts that will save you from crashing the aircraft looking for too long! It’s these little timesavers that help you start to become a more professional pilot who makes fewer mistakes and deals with problems quickly and easily.

Of course, it also helps the entire experience feel more “real”. If you are able to get used to hitting all these little keys in front of you it can feel far more like the real thing than constantly clicking with a mouse.

I struggled to engage with flight simulators at first because of this, but once I got into the habit of using keyboard shortcuts to get things done I found that not only did my flying skills improve, but my actual enjoyment of using a flight simulator shot up as well!

This is the perfect solution for anyone who struggles to get into the atmosphere, or regularly makes mistakes.

Adam McEnroe

Adam McEnroe is a flight sim enthusiast who has been simming since the days of FS95. Adam writes all of the download section editorials after testing each of the files. Adam has extensive knowledge using various flight simulator packages and thoroughly tests the files before writing about them. Adam also like to fly real-world aircraft in his spare time and is training for his PPL.

Installation of Add-on Aircraft/Scenery

Most of the freeware add-on aircraft and scenery packages in our file library come with easy installation instructions which you can read above in the file description. For further installation help, please see our Knowledge Center for our full range of tutorials or view the README file contained within the download.

Related

22 comments

The content of the comments below are entirely the opinions of the individual posting the comment and do not always reflect the views of Fly Away Simulation. We moderate all comments manually before they are approved.

Shuge ZhangMon, 14 Jan 2019 20:13:46 GMT

The new PDF option is brilliant. I don't have Microsoft Word so this one works for me just fine. I was also able to print it with no problems. The JPG and PNG files are also useful for viewing without printing.

All the best,

Shuge.

Darkmagnitude56Mon, 16 Oct 2017 04:33:14 GMT

Nice grid of the commands pretty much the same as in the game. Maybe if you would have added something to it that would be helpful. Or made it a PDF file or something with page breaks... but all and all thanks.

Darkmagnitude56Mon, 16 Oct 2017 04:32:39 GMT

GOD THIS IS AWESOME
I WISH I COULD KISS YOU RIGHT NOW
(OK maybe not kiss)
But This Is Awesome

iandaleyFri, 16 Jun 2017 18:21:20 GMT

Can I reposition the aircraft for continual approaches, (instead of having top fly the full circuit?)

Bernard J StaudtFri, 23 Dec 2016 21:54:49 GMT

Hi,

I have a situation that has been driving me crazy for years !! Control + E will start the engine on planes but they will never keep running. Engines stop as soon as keys are released. I can only fly missions where the Engines are all ready running.

Please tell me what has made this happen. It worked okay at one time. Reloading the software does not fix the problem. I suspect that a file someplace stores this setup info and pumps it back into the new installations so reloading does not change the problem.

Thank you for your time.
Bernie Staudt

DavidMon, 23 May 2016 02:01:07 GMT

Since I d/loaded Concord getting a lot of black smoke from other aircraft engines Tried the i key to switch off but doesnt seem to work I have checked the settings which seem ok

This is a remarkable service you have done. Thank you so much. So nicely organized and clearly laid out. Very useful. Again, THANK YOU paul......

Gary IrvineFri, 11 Oct 2013 04:56:12 GMT

SHIFT+ENTER does not move eye point up in FSX. Is there a way around this?

OTMANFri, 12 Aug 2011 22:23:11 GMT

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. Is there a keyboard command for switching fro Nav to GPS as when doing a flight plan and having the plane track the course?

eecee04Tue, 27 Jul 2010 23:02:50 GMT

Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou.

cbunce322Wed, 04 Feb 2009 09:50:54 GMT

helps me a lot for shotcuts

TimmileyMon, 04 Aug 2008 15:23:07 GMT

THANKS A LOT FOR DOING THIS AND IT REALLY IS HELPFUL. I HOPE THAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FILE AND USE EVERY COMMAND THAT IS AVAILABLE IN FLIGHT SIMULATOR X.

conticreativeTue, 10 Jun 2008 18:12:14 GMT

I love you! I have been looking for something like this for days now. Thank you!

jetguy99Sat, 26 Jan 2008 21:09:02 GMT

You are a god my friend. this has save my but soo many times.

AirAustinSat, 26 May 2007 16:56:57 GMT

It`s very useful, but I must say that there is a complete list of key commands in somewhere like the Learning Center of the game.

blademanSat, 03 Mar 2007 00:36:41 GMT

kool great for newbies just printed them and trimmed off excess paper . taped'em together as one page . hang it off to the side of screen.

96EyesSat, 17 Feb 2007 21:02:01 GMT

Quite useful, even though you don't get any more info than you get in the Shift+F10 panel... BUT: you do get a chance to PRINT the list and save time going back and forth in panels while playing... Not bad at all, especially for newbies (like me) who don't know all the keys yet (does anyone--I wonder...)

littlejoeFri, 19 Jan 2007 01:03:20 GMT

thanks for the DownLoad!

cpscWed, 18 Oct 2006 15:12:34 GMT

Nice grid of the commands pretty much the same as in the game. Maybe if you would have added something to it that would be helpful. Or made it a PDF file or something with page breaks... but all and all thanks.

Sign-Up

Signing-up for a Pro account gives you super fast uncapped speed to the thousands of FSX, FS2004 & X-Plane downloads which include aircraft, scenery and more - click here to view the library for free or...